A stand alone course designed to enable the offshore mariner to safely navigate extended passages using traditional methods. It includes practical navigation exercises and sample chartwork calculations.

COURSE OUTLINE

Chart work instruments

The magnetic compass, variation and deviation

The Breton plotter

NOAA charts

Admiralty charts

Small craft charts

Projection

Scales

Horizontal datum

Units of measurement

Datum of soundings

Charted heights

Chart numbers

Source diagram

Editions and dates

Large scale charts

Notes, warnings, cautions

Detailed chart information

Nautical chart symbols and abbreviations

Angles and degrees

Latitude and Longitude

Defining a position

Chart work convections

Distance, speed, time and direction

Position by bearing and distance

Magnetic north

Compass error

Causes of deviation

Applying variation and deviation

The deviation card

Compass error

The hand bearing compass

Position lines and position fixes

Bearings at sea

Range/transit’s

Sectored lights

Clearing lines

Running fixes

Dead reckoning and estimated positions

The navigation log book

(2 day course)

€350 per person all year round

WEATHER MASTER

A stand alone course for those who are seeking a comprehensive understanding of the factors involved in world meteorology and weather routing for long distance or ocean passages.

COURSE OUTLINE

Causes of wind

Air masses

Atmospheric pressure

Air circulation

Coriolis Effect

Polar fronts

Depressions

Anti-cyclones

Warm fronts

Cold fronts

Ridges, troughs, squalls

Effect of jet stream

High pressure/ low pressure systems

Frontal depressions

Cloud types

Buy Ballots law

Sea /land breezes

Types of fog

Thunder and lightning

The Beaufort scale

Effects of friction

Barometric pressure

Sources of weather forecasts

Gale warnings

General synopsis

Sea area forecast

International weather map systems

Tropical revolving storms

Understanding hurricanes

Tropical waves, depressions and storms

Navigable semicircle

Dangerous quadrant

Significant wave heights

Radio warnings

(1 day course)

€175 person all year round

Not included in the price is the cost of getting to Sailing the Med, Accommodation or Meals.